Rotating Turret Arms Transfer Items Without Surface Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manufacturing technologies for transferring items, such as sanitary tissue products, are complex, limit production rates, and often damage the items due to engagement with outer surfaces, lacking flexibility and efficiency in handling items without flat sides or orderly arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A method using a turret with rotatable arms and carrier mechanisms that engage items through void areas within their cores, allowing for flexible transfer between input and output streams without damaging the items, enabling efficient handling and alignment of items with different configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If guide rails, stacking apparatuses, grouping apparatuses, and layering devices are used to handle items, then items can be grouped and sorted, but the device complexity increases and the outer surface of items may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical handling systems (guide rails, stacking apparatuses) with a robotic system that uses vision guidance and controlled force application. The robotic arm with compliant end effector substitutes multiple dedicated mechanical apparatuses with a single reconfigurable system, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining handling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system is designed to perform multiple functions (grouping, sorting, orienting, packaging) with a single apparatus, eliminating the need for separate guide rails, stacking apparatuses, grouping apparatuses, and layering devices. This multi-functional approach directly reduces device complexity while preserving all original capabilities.
2Ease of manufacture
If guide rails, stacking apparatuses, grouping apparatuses, and layering devices are used to handle items, then items can be grouped and sorted, but the outer surface of items is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic end effector incorporates compliant elements and soft grippers that can adapt to the shape of items without rigid contact. This flexibility allows the system to handle items gently, distributing force evenly and avoiding concentration of stress on the outer surface, thus preventing damage while maintaining effective handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces rigid mechanical handling systems with a robotic system that uses vision guidance and controlled force application. This substitution enables precise control over contact forces, allowing the system to handle items delicately and avoid outer surface damage while maintaining full handling capability.
3Productivity
If current technologies are used for transferring items, then items can be moved between streams, but the production rate is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system operates continuously, with the robotic arm and end effector capable of rapid, repetitive pick-and-place operations. The system maintains continuous productive action by quickly transitioning between items and configurations without the need for complex mechanical reconfigurations, thereby increasing production rate while keeping the system relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system is inherently dynamic and reconfigurable, allowing it to adapt to different item configurations and transfer patterns on the fly. This dynamic capability eliminates the need for complex fixed mechanical systems, enabling high-speed operation and increased production rate with simpler overall device architecture.
4Productivity
If current technologies are used for transferring items, then items can be moved between streams, but the process flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system is inherently dynamic and reconfigurable, allowing it to adapt to different item configurations and transfer patterns on the fly. This dynamic capability enables the system to handle varied item configurations (different sizes, shapes, orientations) while maintaining high production rates, achieving both flexibility and productivity simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system performs multiple transfer functions and adapts to different item types and configurations using a single apparatus. This universal capability provides great process flexibility while maintaining high productivity, eliminating the need for multiple specialized systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of transferring items, such as rolled absorbent product. The method includes the steps of feeding one or more input streams of items toward a turret having a longitudinal axis and arms for engaging the items, the arms being rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The arms can engage at least one of the items from at least one of the one or more input streams and rotate away from the input streams and into a position aligned with one or more output streams. The number of input streams can be different than the number of output streams. The items can be fed onto the one or more output streams.